Background:
Chairman, on Oct. 15, 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved RZ 2017-HM-018 – Campus Commons LLC – to entitle a mixed-use development at the northeast corner of Wiehle Avenue and Sunrise Valley Drive. As part of this application, the developer, TF Cornerstone, proffered to provide pedestrian improvements for a crossing of Wiehle Avenue at the eastbound Dulles Toll Road ramps at the northwest corner of the site. The approved proffer statement is linked here. Due to community concerns about the safety of the proposed at-grade crossing, the proffers envisioned the formation of a group to study three proposed pedestrian overpasses, as well as any alternative crossings identified by the study group. The study group was also to review an evaluation of a separate proposed at-grade crosswalk across Wiehle Avenue. The study group held 15 meetings from December 2019 to August 2021.

The results of the study group’s efforts are also included here. This document, written by the study group, includes a summary of findings along with individual comments and perspectives from members of the study group. The study group members were asked to identify crossing types they would support and were given the option to select multiple crossing alternatives. The study group findings included:

• 0% support for any of the three overpass options proffered by the applicant
• 0% support for the at-grade crosswalk across Wiehle Avenue at the Dulles Toll Road as shown on Sheet C-7 of the CDP.
• 59% support for an alternative crossing option of an enhanced at-grade pedestrian crosswalk associated with a more multimodal approach and potential road diet.
• 71% support for an alternative crossing option of an underpass, recognizing there may be cost implications with this alternative.

On Sept. 14, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved a Board Matter and directed staff to conduct a study of the Wiehle Avenue corridor between Sunrise Valley Drive and the Washington & Old Dominion Trail to evaluate opportunities to improve multimodal access and mobility. This study will consider mobility along both sides of Wiehle Avenue, with a particular focus on the Dulles Toll Road overpasses and its approaches. This study is fully funded and should begin six months after the opening of Phase 2 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

Also on Sept. 14, 2021, the Board of Supervisors accepted the findings of the Wiehle Avenue Study Group for review. Consistent with the timeline specified, the Board must now determine the most appropriate pedestrian crossing options proposed with the Campus Commons LLC application.  As I will outline in my motion, the preference of the study group was an alternative crossing. Further refinement will occur in conjunction with the Corridor Study.  When the Corridor Study is complete and the appropriate alternative crossing has been developed, staff will return to the Board for final approval and the applicant will, as required by the proffers, either construct the crossing or provide a contribution as laid out in the proffers. 

Motion:
Therefore Mr. Chairman, I move that the Board of Supervisors, in accordance with the approved proffer statement for RZ 2017-HM-018:

• Determine that, consistent with the Study Group unanimously not supporting any of the overpass options, the Board selects the option known as “Alternative Wiehle Avenue Pedestrian Crossing” under Proffer 25;
• Direct staff to return to the Board with options for the alternative pedestrian crossing based on recommendations from the completed Wiehle Avenue Crossing Study and the forthcoming Wiehle Avenue corridor study; and
• ​​​​​Determine that a high-visibility at-grade crossing of Wiehle Avenue at the Dulles Toll Road eastbound ramps should be provided, in accordance with Proffer 27.B, if such an improvement can be achieved through an enhanced multimodal design that demonstrates acceptable operational conditions and incorporates pedestrian safety measures developed in coordination with VDOT, FCDOT, and my office. The at-grade crossing should:
• • Address documented concerns raised by the community through the Wiehle Avenue Crossing Study Group about the design of the at-grade crosswalk to ensure that this improvement is designed to be aesthetically pleasing, highly efficient, safe, and accessible for all users.
  • Be provided in conjunction with pedestrian accommodations along the east side of Wiehle Avenue across the Dulles Toll Road overpass, and;
• Notify the applicant that the Board has made these determinations.